Yesterday was Day #1 of the 21 Day Relationship Challenge-but don't worry, if you sign up after this "official" start day, you'll get the full 21 days worth of daily emails starting from whenever you sign up.

Here on the blog, in addition to my usual daily posts, I'll add a very short post about the day's resolution, to give people a place to weigh in with their thoughts and experiences. We can all learn from each other, so please do comment. If you have a comment some days later, you can scroll back and add your comment at any time.

You can read all posts related to the 21 Day Relationship Challenge by going here (or searching in the Archives, found in the right rail, in the Category of "21 Day Relationship Challenge").

Now, why is this a "relationship" challenge? Why not an "energy" challenge, say? (Which would also useful, I think!) Because for many people, I've noticed, the element of Happier at Home that resonates most is the discussion of relationships.

Ancient

Blaine Moats/Fitness MagazineBy the editors of FITNESS Magazine

Keep these spices handy in your spice rack to not only improve the taste of your meals but to keep you healthy, too. These spices have health benefits like lowering cholesterol and preventing cancer.

Related: The Spice Is Right: 8 Healthy Recipes That Turn Up the Heat


Dried Red Pepper
The compound capsaicin puts the heat in chilies. It may lower the risk of skin and colon cancers; studies show it also helps people eat fewer calories. Try hot pepper on pizza or in pasta.

Nutmeg
Nutmeg contains antibacterial compounds that may help fight listeria, E. coli, and salmonella, according to research. Try nutmeg in soups or chicken dishes or on sweet potatoes.

Cumin
Cumin is a potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant that may help stop tumor growth. Try cumin in tacos, or use it as a rub on meats.

Related: Top 10 Antioxidant-Packed Foods

Turmeric
Turmeric contains an active component called curcumin, which may stop cancer from spreading and help prevent

By Gretel H. Schueller, Contributing Writer for EatingWell

If you go to the grocery store you'll probably notice that gluten-free products are more widespread than ever--everything from bread and pasta to chips and dessert have gluten-free versions. (Gluten is a protein primarily found in foods containing wheat, barley or rye.)

And that's for a good reason: roughly 18 million Americans have some degree of gluten sensitivity, according to Alessio Fasano, director of the University of Maryland Center for Celiac Research, and as many as 3 million Americans (about 1 percent of the population) have celiac disease.

For people with celiac disease, the battle in their gut between their immune system and the gluten winds up damaging tiny, fingerlike projections called villi that line the small intestine and absorb nutrients. The damage prevents nutrients from being absorbed properly, causing a variety of health problems.

Doctors are still not sure what actually causes celiac

Want to get in shape but not sure where to begin with your New Year's fitness resolution? Look no further. According to a recent Harvard Medical School newsletter, there are five ideal exercises that can whip your body into shape. (Bonus: Being young, skinny and adept at all things sports not required.)

"If you're not an athlete or serous exerciser, these exercises are good for an intro to fitness," according to Sabrena Merrill, exercise physiologist and spokesperson for the American Council on Exercise (ACE). "Once you have mastered them, you can still do these-just enhance your workout by upping the intensity."

By Raechel Conover, Cheapism.com

It's the New Year and a chance for a new you - all without spending loads of cash. Instead of investing in a hefty new gym fee, try working out on your own with the help of some handy free fitness apps. We scoured the web and came up with our top five favorite fitness apps to help get your new year's resolution off on the right foot.

Get into shape with these five cheap fitness apps.

Related: Top 4 inexpensive treadmills

1. Runtastic. Primarily a running app but also good for biking and other indoor/outdoor distance activities, this fitness app has a built-in GPS that tracks your route and progress along the way. You'll get read-outs for distance, time, speed, pace, calories burned, and more. The popular running app makes it especially easy to analyze your progress daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly, and to share those results with others.
Pros and Cons: Blackberry users who reviewed Runtastic at the Blackberry App World store say it's very useful for serious training and several claim

FitSugarSource: Commitment Issues? Help Weight-Loss Resolutions Stick

Going with the flow can be healthy in many circumstances, but it's not always the best bet when it comes to a weight-loss routine. To see the results you want on the scale and in your clothes, committing to a healthy diet and exercise plan is a must. And with these tips in mind, it's not as hard as you think.

• Pencil it in: Keeping a food journal is a helpful technique to achieve your healthy goals. One study found that the women who were the most successful at losing weight monitored their food intake by keeping a journal. In addition, whether you have to jot it down in a calendar, send a series of email reminders, or pay for classes ahead of time, schedule workouts in advance.
• Stay positive: Beating yourself up does more harm than good when it comes to weight loss, and anxiety and negativity aren't helping you achieve your goals at all. Focus on keeping a positive attitude and celebrating healthy

Source: Portion Control: One Step Closer to Significant Weight Loss

At its most basic, weight loss is a simple equation of calories in and calories out, which makes keeping track of what you're eating that much more important. "But what's the point," you ask, "when I'm already sticking to a healthy diet?" While we'd never tell you to stop eating avocados, nuts, or whole-wheat pasta, these foods (and others) are notoriously calorie-dense. If you're on the path to weight loss, it's no easy journey, but some simple reminders about portion control will ensure your healthy snack of nut butter and fruit doesn't become the calorie equivalent of an entire meal.

• Start with the basics: Before you can even begin to know what your meal plan will break down to, you first need to learn what your daily calorie requirements are. Keep in mind that the daily requirement is different for everyone based on certain factors like activity level, age, and gender. Use this handy calorie calculator to

Foster at the Golden Globes.Of all the supposedly-gay celebrities in the rumor mill, Jodie Foster has perhaps remained caught in it the longest. Why? Perhaps because she's chosen to remain silent—or confusingly vague, rather—about her sexuality for so many years.

Related: Jodie Foster comes out at Golden Globes, sort of

It's hardly surprising, then, that media coverage of her Sunday night Golden Globes speech has alternately hailed Foster for coming out, wondered what the heck she was trying to say, and yawned, reporting that the star came out "again."

What she did say, after opening with the tease, "I'm just going to put it out there, loud and proud. I am, uh, . . . single," was, among other things, thank you to Cydney Bernard, her former longtime partner with whom she has two sons. Foster called her "my heroic co-parent, my ex-partner in love but righteous soul sister in life, my confessor, ski buddy, consiglieri, [and] most beloved BFF of 20 years."

Foster also claimed she had already come out. “I already